Who still writes checks at the grocery store? (Page 3)

SERIOUS ADVICE FOR ALL...

I'm the Network Manager for one of the largest east-coast retail grocery chains, so I have a little knowledge regarding this.

DO NOT USE DEBIT CARDS!!!

Use credit cards and keep a simple ATM card. Why? Because your PIN is encoded on the debit card itself. Ever use your debit card at a restaurant? Did the waiter come back and ask you for your PIN number? Nope. Did the transaction go through? You betcha. How difficult is it to swipe, capture and clone a debit card? I can do it behind my back in 2 seconds. So when your debit card gets cloned, now the theif has access to your actual bank account. That can get ugly and depending on your bank, may not be easy or fun to work through.

What about credit cards? One call to the bank, the card is dead, you're not liable and a new card is issued to you in the mail which arrives a day or two later. Getting a credit card number stolen isn't identity theft. You simply cancel it and get a new number.

Checks? What are those? Haven't written one in years!

i thought that the waiter didn't need the pin b/c the debit card has the ability to be run as a credit card OR a debit card.  you don't need a pin to use the credit feature anywhere, even when you swipe it yourself.  and if it's so easy to get the pin number, then why do criminals use debit cards as credit cards when they steal them and not just go to the ATM and clean out the account.  not saying you don't have the background, but it just doesn't jive with what i've ever learned from others who work for credit card companies/banks (and are friends/relatives...so they aren't giving me the party line) 

I think his point was the waiter doesn' t need it for you transaction but if he is cloning your card he does for use later.